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Orbicular granodiorite

Dr Rachel Walcott

Rachel Walcott is the head of the Earth Systems section.

Dr Walcott started her academic career at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand where she gained a BSc(hons) and a research Masters in geology and geophysics. After working in Canada and the UK, she went on to do a PhD in structural geology at Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands. This was followed by a postdoc at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Géologie, Paris and two Research Fellowships at the University of Edinburgh in tectonic geomorphology, the study of surface processes.

A unifying theme to Dr Walcott’s research has been to better understand the role that tectonic processes have on our environment; from micro-fabric scale through to mountain-range scale, from the geochemical signature of tectonic mixing through to the effect of plate motion on river network geometry. She is currently co-supervising Lucy Campbell, a PhD student at the University of Leeds, who is examining how earthquake-generated melts develop in deep fault zones.

These days Dr Walcott’s research focusses on the interaction of tectonic, geomorphic and biological processes. Current research topics include the processes that control the evolution of river networks, the influence of biomass on surface processes and the role of biology on mineral generation. 

Ten selected publications

  1. M.D. Hurst, S.M. Mudd, M. Attal, K. Yoo and R. Walcott,. 2013 Influence of lithology on hillslope morphology and response to tectonic forcing in the Sierra Nevada of California. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, Vol 118, 1-20
  2. D. Craw, P. Upton, R. Walcott, C.Burridge, and J. Waters. 2012. Tectonic controls on the evolution of the Clutha River catchment, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, Volume 55, Issue 4.
  3. M.D. Hurst, S.M. Mudd, R.C. Walcott, M. Attal, and K. Yoo.  2012.  Using Hilltop Curvature to Derive the Spatial Distribution of Erosion Rates, Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, 115, doi:10.1029/2011JF002057.
  4. Walcott R.C. and M. A. Summerfield. 2009. Universality and variability in basin outlet spacing: implications for the two-dimensional form of drainage basins, Basin Research, doi 10.1111/j.1365-2117.2008.00379.
  5. Walcott, R. and M. Summerfield.  2008.  Scale dependence of hypsometric integrals: an analysis of southeast African basins. Geomorphology, doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.08.00.
  6. Walcott C.R. and S.H. White  1998.  Constraints on the kinematics of post-orogenic extension imposed by stretching lineations in the Aegean region, Tectonophysics, 198, p.155-175.
  7. Walcott, C.R.  1998.  The Alpine evolution of Thessaly (NW Greece) and late Tertiary Aegean kinematics, Geologica Ultraiectina, 162, 175 p.
  8. Walcott, C.R. and D. Craw.  1993.  Subsolidus physical and chemical mixing of granite and gabbro during mylonitization, South Victoria Land, Antarctica, Journal of Structural Geology, 15, 12, p.1422-1441.
  9. Walcott, C.R. and D. Craw.  1993.  Post-emplacement deformation of plutons and their metasedimentary host, Mt. Dromedary Area, South Victoria Land, Antarctica, New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 36, p. 487-496.
  10. Craw D., A. D. Morrison and C.R. Walcott.  1992.  Fluid inclusion evidence for widespread shallow hydrothermal activity in South Victoria Land, Antarctica, New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 35, no.1, p. 21-29.

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Dr Rachel Walcott

Dr Rachel Walcott

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